MCQ Detailed View

Magnetic core memory was primarily used during the second generation of computers, which lasted from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s. It was a significant improvement over the earlier memory technology used in the first generation, which relied on vacuum tubes and punch cards.

Magnetic core memory worked by using small magnetic rings (called cores) to store data in the form of binary digits (0s and 1s). Each core could be magnetized in two directions, representing one bit of information. Wires passed through these tiny cores to read or write data using electrical currents.

This type of memory was much faster, more reliable, and more durable than previous technologies. It allowed computers of the second generation to process data more efficiently and handle more complex calculations. Because it was non-volatile, magnetic core memory could retain data even when power was turned off, which was a valuable feature at the time.